Handle for screw drivers and similar tools



Sept 9, 1952 J. M. HADFIELD 2,609,851

HANDLE FCR SCREW DRIVERS AND SIMILAR TOOLS Filed June ll, 1948 l R z Inn/enfer'f dsephMHadfO/Zd Patented Sept. 9, 1952 @UNITED j STATES PATENLTOFFICE. f p Y f V"2,609,851 y HANDLE Foa SCREW DRIVERS AND; SIMILAR rrooLs Joseph Martin Haafie1a,c1licag,m.f I.

Application June 311, 1948,`SerialfN1o. 3,;Z,"5Il1k fr I1 Claim. (Cl. 145-61) l The present invention `relates to screw drivers and similar tools, and is particularly concerned withthe provision of improved tools which will enable the user Ito drive home threaded members more quickly and efficiently than .with the devices ofl the prior art. l i i i One of the objects of theinvention` is the provision o'f an improved screw driver or similar tool'in which the small metal shank of the screw driver or other tool is suitably roughened sothat it kmay be grasped between the thumb and forenger or middle finger of the hand and twirled at a high speed with a minimum amount of effort,

Whilelthere are screw bolts and other threaded Y members, Vthe threads of which may be damaged or rusted or ill fitted so that the turning is difficult, most screw bolts and other threaded mem-V bers turn easily until they reach the point Where they begin to tighten on thesubject-matter they are intended to secure. screw bolt by hand until it reaches vthe tightening position, but that is a slow and laborious process.

Another object of theV present invention is the provision of improved screw drivers and other tools, by means of which a screw bolt or other threaded member can be spun at a high speed until the screw bolt begins to tighten, after which it may be tightened in the usual Way.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved screw driver or other tool, theshank of which is knurled so that the shank can be spun between the fingers, and the head of which is suitably shaped and of such size that it can be permitted to slide in the palm as the lingers spin the shank. Thus the palm is adapted Vto guide the head of thescrewA driver like a bearing while the fingers Aare located to spin theshank and drive the screw home to the tightening position, with a minimum of labor andin a minimum length of time.

l ther objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the, accompanyingfdrawings, in which similar characters oflreference indicate similar parts throughout thej several views.

Referring to the single sheet companying this specication,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an ordinary screw driver embodying the invention;

Fig. 2v is a view in perspective of the invention embodied in a small socket wrench;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of another modiof drawings ac- Many mechanics turn a 2 another modication in which sockets of differ'd ent `size may be applied to the'shank; and

Fig. 5` is anotherview in perspective of a-modi cation-inywhich the shank isprovided with a.I knurled insulating sleeve for electrical work.

Referring tto Figure l, I indicates in its entirety aiV screw driver embodyingwthe invention,

in which theshank II is provided with an in-l tegral ilattened end portion I2, `having a narrowedge portion I3 `adapted to be received in the.l kerf of a-gscrew. i l .i

The shank II has its opposite end `iiattened orsquared at I4 `and suitably anchored in a round. knob I5, which may consist of any suitable material. In ithe preferred embodiment ofl thein` vention, knob 4I5 `may be-molded out of'an; initially plastic f composition, such as a vinyl. chloride resin, methyl methacrylate, polystyrene 0r the like. .i i i The shank I4 mayhave an integral square part I6 imbedded in the moldedhead. The head I may be of any desired shape, but is preferably round and small enough to be held in the palm of the hand, as shown in -Figure 1, when the thumb and the middle nger reach down past cation in which the driving end of the screw l the handle into engagement with a knurled portion I I opftheshank.` i l The knurled portion erablyrelatively long so that the ngerslof" the user may be applied at variousl points of the shank for thepurpose of spinning the shank.

Various types of knurling may be applied, but thel preferred form may consist of helically extending grooves andridges crossing eachother,

leaving raised isolated islands or 'lands between the crossing grooves, by means of which thel onal with intermediate corners for receiving a hexagonal nut.

The socket wrench of Figure 2 may be most popular with users who are assembling small machine parts where machine screws are used instead of the screws having screw driver kerf.

The socket I9 is preferably made relatively deep so that it may be used to drive nuts home while` the bolt to which the nut is applied projects upward into the socket.

I1 of the shank is pref- Referring to Figure 4, this is a modification of Referring to Figure 3, this is a modification.'

in which the shank Il and knob l5 maybe sube stantially as described with respect to Figure 1, K

but at the opposite end the shank Il carries a cruciform screw driving formation 26 of the .type known in the trade as the Phillips screw driver.

screw drivers and socket wrenches of all different.

types.

Referring to Figure 5, this is a modification similar to Figure 1 except thatthe shank H is provided witha thin electrically insulated; sleeve 2the'surfacle of which is knurled like `the surface il of Figure 1. of an initially plastic compositionin-w-hieh the shank-is Adipped or which is molded on the-shank and provided with the knurled formations- In another form of the inventionLa resilient rubber sleeve may be so` constructed-that it stretches tightly about the shank; of. the screw driver, adhering closely to it and giving Vthe shank-a rubber covering. 'ljhis rubber sleeve may not Yrequire anyHkY-nurled surfacing asv theVV rubber itselfA may beofsnch characteristics as to sive a nonslipping grip with the'rfingers.

The use 0f my` screwV drivers and socket wrenchesv is asfollows; rIfhev -knurled surface s,-

Saville the tedious.. hand-turning 0i the knob of; the screw driver, and reducing the time andlabor; required.. in applying-211ml tightening, nuts., and:

screws. Y

After AtheY nut or screw has reached'- the point whereit` begins tobind, the hand o f,V th user.

being Aover the `knob i,5, the knoby may-begrip dl and used'to turnthe screw driveronthe-.tool

drive the screw orgnut home` andytighten lt` will thus lbe, observed that 'I3 have invented anl improvedstr'ucture iorscrew, drivers and other toolsfin which the shank may-be grasped-between the ngers and, caused t-o spinto turn the ,nut ory screw, asy longfashitturns freely,- while` the knob is still availableV to` tighten thescrewor for any other-purposeeilch as the looseningfot atight screw. v Y

My toolswill-save agreat deal ottime The Sleeve 2ll may consist:

on the part of mechanics and permit the *driving of screws and other threaded members with still greater ease than any other tool so far devised of which I am aware. Y

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, Vwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

AIn a hand tool adapted for twirling with the fingers under loose conditions and forvforceiul y I use ofthe-handle to tighten a threaded member, Thus the present invention may be applied to the combination of an elongated, slender, cylindrical metal shank having a tool formation located at its working end and having a noncircular integral head,V carried'by its other end. `an integral small size knob in which said non circular head is imbedded to.l prevent'relative rotation between said entire. knob and shan1 .;.the.said knob.

having a relatively short cylindrical portion.

which is shorter axially than its diameter and its,. diameter beingzless, than the distancey between the rear. portion of the iingers and thumb ofpthe user when arcuately shapedior twirling motion, 'saidcylindrical portion being provided witha taperedsmaller portion surrounding said shank, the. total lengthv of, said knobv beingzsub.-

stantially Yless than twiceitsdiameter andless thann the distanceV from thepalm of theihand of a the user to. theend of the fingers, said shank having airictional finger ygripping'surface adjacent said; knob to. prevent relative slippagev between .the lingers .of the user` andsaid shank, said .knob because. of .its small'. size and shape being rotate able fin the'palrn of' the user 4when the shank-:is twirledrbetween the: thumby and ngers by the user tddrive va loose. threadedmember speedily to its place, the., knob then beineused; to,V tighten the threaded member. in a'minirnumamount of timethrough frctollal Contact with the palm, of

the user.; without changing f the 4hand position or the userxrelativetotlie tool.

The following .references are of, record in` theV file orthis patent? l I.

MED STAfnsrsr-ENTS,

' Number` Name Y v Date 580,065- V- Neble- Aug; 6,- 1901;v 861,010r .Zfernangv Y July 231907-V $171,155:Y Woes I Nov. 19,1907" 1,225,249 Hollisclfilledel'y May 8,-'191-"7v 1,289,558 Sledgley- VDec, 3l, 1918r 1542113202y AKeith# 1*, 1-922 2,175,481:` Baer/aie oct. 10;' 1-939 esame v Bis-hepv New 20 1945-" 2,418,638*- Hoovery Apr: 8,' 1947" 2,440,854 Frank V vMay 4, A194-8 

